How do you hear from God?

[Soverign Grace]

I need guidance on several rather serious matters and I need to hear from God. Nothing has been forthcoming just yet and I wondered how others seek to hear from Him. There have been only two times when I knew God spoke - it came as a kind of fluttering in the back of my mind; but that type of guidance seems elusive.

Once was many years ago when I had put one of my children in for a nap and went outside to get the mail. My neighbor walked over and she was lonely and kept me outside talking. There was a kind of "fluttering" in the back of my mind that said to go inside and check on my child. I immediately told my neighbor I had to go inside. When I went in the house, my child had gotten into over the counter medicines and was about to swallow them. Still other times no such guidance came.

The 2nd time it happened was when we were at a bible study with a new pastor many years ago. We were sitting around a table and he asked a question - I don't recall what it was. In the back of my mind there was a type of fluttering that gave me the answer. The pastor looked astonished and said that even long time Christians didn't know that answer.

There were other times when I could have badly needed such guidance and it never came. It always puzzled me why God never spoke during those times.

Has anyone else had that happen? How do you hear from God?

 

[Windmill Charge]

The basic truth is I don't, but I also don't expect to hear a voice etc.
I seek to live according to the principals found in the bible, as explained in sermons or in bible readings.
My experience is of being made to think by something said in a sermon, or by a passage in the bible.

May I sugest that you ask your self, do any of the matters you are considering mean breaking the 10 commandments?

If so there is the guidence.

 

[Pearl]

Don't worry about it. I sometimes find myself in a place where I don't feel as if I'm hearing from God and he more I strive to hear from him the more elusive he seems to get. I know he is there with me but I can't catch hold of him somehow and the harder I try the more elusive he seemed. One time during one of these times he did 'speak' to me, into my spirit he said, “Just be and let me.” I stopped striving and started to feel God's presence again.

I believe there are many ways to hear from God; through the bible is the most obvious way, and often when I have been praying for a particular circumstance an answer comes through my daily reading.

But it is also possible for God to speak to us through books written by Christians, through a word from a friend, through dreams and through things in the world that teach us life lessons. He also speaks directly into our spirits sometimes which is thrilling to hear from him directly like that but it doesn't seem to happen very often and is very special.

I once asked God why I didn't hear more from him and these words came clearly into me,

“I don't talk like people talk, I listen and give answers and direction. If you ask a question I will answer it, if you need guidance I will give it. But I hear your every word beloved; I hear every whispered prayer, every beat of your heart. I love you.”

I wrote the words down straight away and wrote, WOW! WOW! WOW! As I was so in awe.

And this is one of the life lessons I spoke of which taught me abut hearing from God:

One summer I bought a little wind chime for my back garden. It is only small and makes a very pretty sound when the wind blows on it. The first day I put it up my husband said he couldn't hear it, but there was quite a lot of background noise; a road sweeper in the back street and a neighbour operating some sort of machine. Through all that noise, unheard, the little chimes were ringing but we could only hear them when we were standing very close to them.

It was a life lesson and I realised that hearing God's voice is a bit like that. Sometimes there is so much going on in our lives that we can't hear him at all. And in order to do so we must move in closer. At other times it can be so quiet and peaceful that we hear the sound of the wind chimes, and the Holy Spirit, with no difficulty.

 

[Soverign Grace]

The basic truth is I don't, but I also don't expect to hear a voice etc.
I seek to live according to the principals found in the bible, as explained in sermons or in bible readings.
My experience is of being made to think by something said in a sermon, or by a passage in the bible.

May I sugest that you ask your self, do any of the matters you are considering mean breaking the 10 commandments?

If so there is the guidence.

I appreciate your honesty. I got away from listening to sermons when I couldn't make church so that is something to do. I've had times where a Scripture verse that I'd read long ago comes to mind at the right time. There is a verse in the Bible about that but I can't recall it.

None of the matters are breaking the ten commandments.

 

[Soverign Grace]

Don't worry about it. I sometimes find myself in a place where I don't feel as if I'm hearing from God and he more I strive to hear from him the more elusive he seems to get. I know he is there with me but I can't catch hold of him somehow and the harder I try the more elusive he seemed. One time during one of these times he did 'speak' to me, into my spirit he said, “Just be and let me.” I stopped striving and started to feel God's presence again.

I believe there are many ways to hear from God; through the bible is the most obvious way, and often when I have been praying for a particular circumstance an answer comes through my daily reading.

But it is also possible for God to speak to us through books written by Christians, through a word from a friend, through dreams and through things in the world that teach us life lessons. He also speaks directly into our spirits sometimes which is thrilling to hear from him directly like that but it doesn't seem to happen very often and is very special.

I once asked God why I didn't hear more from him and these words came clearly into me,

“I don't talk like people talk, I listen and give answers and direction. If you ask a question I will answer it, if you need guidance I will give it. But I hear your every word beloved; I hear every whispered prayer, every beat of your heart. I love you.”

I wrote the words down straight away and wrote, WOW! WOW! WOW! As I was so in awe.

And this is one of the life lessons I spoke of which taught me abut hearing from God:

One summer I bought a little wind chime for my back garden. It is only small and makes a very pretty sound when the wind blows on it. The first day I put it up my husband said he couldn't hear it, but there was quite a lot of background noise; a road sweeper in the back street and a neighbour operating some sort of machine. Through all that noise, unheard, the little chimes were ringing but we could only hear them when we were standing very close to them.

It was a life lesson and I realised that hearing God's voice is a bit like that. Sometimes there is so much going on in our lives that we can't hear him at all. And in order to do so we must move in closer. At other times it can be so quiet and peaceful that we hear the sound of the wind chimes, and the Holy Spirit, with no difficulty.

I'm glad you experienced the same thing - I'm somewhat straining to hear from Him but it seems elusive. I loved those few times when I knew He spoke but I don't know why it doesn't happen often. It's like chasing a shadow.

Thanks for sharing that about answers coming through your reading. I used to have a set Bible reading every day but a lot of things happened and I stopped. I've known for awhile that I have to get back into it - I guess it's kind of an inertia going on - some kind of rut I've been in. I need answers so I guess this might be a good time to get back into scheduled Bible reading.

That's a good story about the wind chimes. I know the verse about "the still small voice" but I don't hear it often. It was so good to have those few times flutter across the back of my mind but I don't know how to have it happen more often.

 

[Not me]

I need guidance on several rather serious matters and I need to hear from God. Nothing has been forthcoming just yet and I wondered how others seek to hear from Him. There have been only two times when I knew God spoke - it came as a kind of fluttering in the back of my mind; but that type of guidance seems elusive.

Once was many years ago when I had put one of my children in for a nap and went outside to get the mail. My neighbor walked over and she was lonely and kept me outside talking. There was a kind of "fluttering" in the back of my mind that said to go inside and check on my child. I immediately told my neighbor I had to go inside. When I went in the house, my child had gotten into over the counter medicines and was about to swallow them. Still other times no such guidance came.

The 2nd time it happened was when we were at a bible study with a new pastor many years ago. We were sitting around a table and he asked a question - I don't recall what it was. In the back of my mind there was a type of fluttering that gave me the answer. The pastor looked astonished and said that even long time Christians didn't know that answer.

There were other times when I could have badly needed such guidance and it never came. It always puzzled me why God never spoke during those times.

Has anyone else had that happen? How do you hear from God?

Hi,

Scripture says;

Colossians 3:15 (NASB)
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

That word rule can also be translated as arbitrate. So the scripture could read;

“Let the Peace of Christ arbitrate in your heart”

When I’m presented with a situation I don’t know what direction to go. I try to the best of my ability to listen to what the peace of Christ is saying in my heart. If something upsets the peace of Christ in my heart, it doesn’t matter what it is I do something different.

If by chance my insides are to troubled and can’t get a clear read on what the Peace of Christ in my heart is saying about something. I walk in the integrity of my heart towards God. Meaning that because God loves love. God loves righteousness. God loves being a peace maker, I strive toward doing whatever I think would be closest to that mark. I may be wrong, but in the integrity of my heart have I done what I thought was righteousness in that situation for no other reason than it was right or the righteous thing.

So I may get chastised by God to a degree, but though that I learn. And seeing how I walked in the integrity of my heart trying to figure out what God’s will was He has always been faithful to guide my steps.

Hope this helps.

Blessings,

Much love in Christ, Not me

 

[Pearl]

I'm glad you experienced the same thing - I'm somewhat straining to hear from Him but it seems elusive. I loved those few times when I knew He spoke but I don't know why it doesn't happen often. It's like chasing a shadow.

Thanks for sharing that about answers coming through your reading. I used to have a set Bible reading every day but a lot of things happened and I stopped. I've known for awhile that I have to get back into it - I guess it's kind of an inertia going on - some kind of rut I've been in. I need answers so I guess this might be a good time to get back into scheduled Bible reading.

That's a good story about the wind chimes. I know the verse about "the still small voice" but I don't hear it often. It was so good to have those few times flutter across the back of my mind but I don't know how to have it happen more often.

Our souls have seasons just as in nature, so perhaps what you are experiencing at the moment is a dry season or a winter season. But spiritual seasons change just as they do in the natural world. Don't get discouraged but just wait. After all we can't hurry along the natural seasons so just accept where you are and let God work in you in his own way.

 

[Not me]

“I don't talk like people talk, I listen and give answers and direction. If you ask a question I will answer it, if you need guidance I will give it. But I hear your every word beloved; I hear every whispered prayer, every beat of your heart. I love you.”

I wrote the words down straight away and wrote, WOW! WOW! WOW! As I was so in awe.

Thanks so much for this. This put a smile in my heart, thanks for the blessing Pearl.

Blessings, Much love in Christ, Not me

 

[Episkopos]

Our souls have seasons just as in nature, so perhaps what you are experiencing at the moment is a dry season or a winter season. But spiritual seasons change just as they do in the natural world. Don't get discouraged but just wait. After all we can't hurry along the natural seasons so just accept where you are and let God work in you in his own way.

It's all part of the walk. There are desert times and oasis times...just like there are cloudy days as well as sunny days. But if a person wants to hear from God in a more overcast kind of time...put out a fleece. Like going in 2 directions at once (acting as if both were right) and asking God to close one down. Ask the Lord for a confirmation at a certain date if it pressing and time related.

We can experience different facets of God's faithfulness when we approach God in different ways. I am convinced that that is the purpose of it...so we don't get stuck seeing God always in the same way.


If the weather was always perfect would we still notice how beautiful a day is when it is perfect?

 

[faithfulness]

“I don't talk like people talk, I listen and give answers and direction. If you ask a question I will answer it, if you need guidance I will give it. But I hear your every word beloved; I hear every whispered prayer, every beat of your heart. I love you.”

Saw this earlier and was touched. Beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Pearl]

Thanks so much for this. This put a smile in my heart, thanks for the blessing Pearl.

Blessings, Much love in Christ, Not me

I'm so glad you were blessed. Love in Jesus, Pearl.

 

[Pearl]

Saw this earlier and was touched. Beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

@faithfulness - I'm so glad it touched your heart.

 

[Soverign Grace]

Hi,

Scripture says;

Colossians 3:15 (NASB)
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

That word rule can also be translated as arbitrate. So the scripture could read;

“Let the Peace of Christ arbitrate in your heart”

When I’m presented with a situation I don’t know what direction to go. I try to the best of my ability to listen to what the peace of Christ is saying in my heart. If something upsets the peace of Christ in my heart, it doesn’t matter what it is I do something different.

If by chance my insides are to troubled and can’t get a clear read on what the Peace of Christ in my heart is saying about something. I walk in the integrity of my heart towards God. Meaning that because God loves love. God loves righteousness. God loves being a peace maker, I strive toward doing whatever I think would be closest to that mark. I may be wrong, but in the integrity of my heart have I done what I thought was righteousness in that situation for no other reason than it was right or the righteous thing.

So I may get chastised by God to a degree, but though that I learn. And seeing how I walked in the integrity of my heart trying to figure out what God’s will was He has always been faithful to guide my steps.

Hope this helps.

Blessings,

Much love in Christ, Not me

That was very helpful. I cut and pasted it onto my notebook. I seem to always have a lot of background static.

 

[Soverign Grace]

Our souls have seasons just as in nature, so perhaps what you are experiencing at the moment is a dry season or a winter season. But spiritual seasons change just as they do in the natural world. Don't get discouraged but just wait. After all we can't hurry along the natural seasons so just accept where you are and let God work in you in his own way.

That's a good analogy. I've gone through a number of seasons in my walk and maybe it is just a time of waiting to move into another season.

 

[Soverign Grace]

It's all part of the walk. There are desert times and oasis times...just like there are cloudy days as well as sunny days. But if a person wants to hear from God in a more overcast kind of time...put out a fleece. Like going in 2 directions at once (acting as if both were right) and asking God to close one down. Ask the Lord for a confirmation at a certain date if it pressing and time related.

We can experience different facets of God's faithfulness when we approach God in different ways. I am convinced that that is the purpose of it...so we don't get stuck seeing God always in the same way.


If the weather was always perfect would we still notice how beautiful a day is when it is perfect?

Thank you.

 

[Not me]

That was very helpful. I cut and pasted it onto my notebook. I seem to always have a lot of background static.

Your more than welcome, glad it was helpful.

For getting to know Christ Jesus personally is, is, is, our lives.

Blessings,

Much love in Christ, Not me

 

[Jon Mathews]

I need guidance on several rather serious matters and I need to hear from God. Nothing has been forthcoming just yet and I wondered how others seek to hear from Him. There have been only two times when I knew God spoke - it came as a kind of fluttering in the back of my mind; but that type of guidance seems elusive.

Once was many years ago when I had put one of my children in for a nap and went outside to get the mail. My neighbor walked over and she was lonely and kept me outside talking. There was a kind of "fluttering" in the back of my mind that said to go inside and check on my child. I immediately told my neighbor I had to go inside. When I went in the house, my child had gotten into over the counter medicines and was about to swallow them. Still other times no such guidance came.

The 2nd time it happened was when we were at a bible study with a new pastor many years ago. We were sitting around a table and he asked a question - I don't recall what it was. In the back of my mind there was a type of fluttering that gave me the answer. The pastor looked astonished and said that even long time Christians didn't know that answer.

There were other times when I could have badly needed such guidance and it never came. It always puzzled me why God never spoke during those times.

Has anyone else had that happen? How do you hear from God?

Usually, when I ask God for guidance and get no reply, He is actually saying "You decide". He doesn't speak more than I really need Him to. I have the whole of Scriptures and Godly advisors, common wisdom and a plethora of knowledge resources at my disposal. With all God's already given, explicit instruction is not often needed. But when I really need to hear from God, He always speaks. He is not a "mute idol".

 

[Windmill Charge]

I appreciate your honesty. I got away from listening to sermons when I couldn't make church so that is something to do. I've had times where a Scripture verse that I'd read long ago comes to mind at the right time. There is a verse in the Bible about that but I can't recall it.

None of the matters are breaking the ten commandments.

Most churches in my experience either tape there services for members who can't make sunday services or nowadays put them on line. There are also online libaries of sermons from many famous men of God that are avalable to download.

As for guidance if what you are thinking about doesn't cause you to break the 10C, it is then a question of thinking through what is involved and of following what you concidered to be the more God honouring course.